to find beauty: quiz time: do you know who i am?

This was an assignment for my "Giving and Volunteerism" class. We were to "pretend" to be someone who either is known for the great giving/philanthropy or leading of a non-profit organzation. Since I am a woman (duh), I chose to be the wife --who I learned had just as exciting contributions as the husband to the non-profit! Do you know "I"- or my "husband" is... or what non-profit he founded?

Upon a trip to South Korea in 1952 to spread the gospel to troops, my husband’s heart broke upon seeing the many unwanted children who were orphaned by the war. As a friend advised and challenged him: “You have seen the tremendous needs and unparalleled opportunities of this land. What do you intend to do about it?" Soon, he was back in the US raising funds and brainstorming ways to help these children. It was when two checks were presented to him for ($50 and $1,000) to help the orphans of Korea that he-we!-knew. He said at the time, "This was conclusive proof to me that God was in it.”

He conceived a fundraising, sponsorship program that through the regular support of givers these children would receive basic food/clothing/shelter/medical aid and biblical lessons. Initially, it all began with just a few dollars a month (and some donated rice and fuel) to help the Korean children… We knew something had to be done.

We became a non-profit in 1956. My husband was president and I was vice president on the board of directors. In the fall of 1964, I spearhead the first of four US tours for the Korean children, where they sang and danced and helped raised the number of donors! This was after many projects including the “Operation Long Underwear” (where 6,000 Korean children were outfitted for winter.) My husband dies in 1965, but I am still apppinted Vice-President and continue to help with sponsor relations. It was a beautiful day when, about a year later, I participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for our first office building.

I was named “Director Emeritus” by the board on September 21, 1990, where I served until my death.

Today, the name of the program may be changed (to reflect Matthew 15:32) from my husband’s first conception, but the core values and the fulfillment of the Great Commission are the same… helping over 1,000,000 children in at least 25 countries world-wide today become healthy adults. The program recently won a four star rating from the nation's largest independent evaluator of charities for the seventh year in a row - one of only 45 charities in the nation to do so.